Wow! I cannot believe that I am sitting down to type this post and the month of January is coming to a close.

I have been pretty quiet on the blog and social media these last few weeks and have had some explaining to do.

First off!  I hope that everyone has had a fantastic start to the New Year and that you've set some exciting goals and are on your way to a fun-filled 2014!!  If you haven't set your goals yet, have a look at these free printables as they will help you get focused with a stylish flare!

These last few weeks have been busy as I navigate through family life, my creative process and a little personal R&R.

If you've been a fan of l.i.d. for a while now, you know I like to share an eclectic variety of posts including anything from art, to affirmations, to random ramblings.

I have been in the process of working on my art portfolio and expanding my skills so that I may license my art in 2014 - one of my big, exciting goals for this year.  So I've been in the introverted mode of creating and this down-time has allowed me to hone in on what my artistic strengths are as well as my artistic voice.  Over the course of the year, I'll be sharing more of my process, my favorite tools and apps for my fellow creatives, as well as what I am learning on this artistic journey that I've been on over the last year.

I can't show you everything that I've been creating these last few weeks but promise that my readers will have the first peek once everything has been released.  In the mean-time, have a look at a sample of my new designs on these fabulous pillows!

 

During the last few weeks that the kids were home sick with me, my daughter and I completed our sketchbook and are exciting to have it catalogued and filed with the Brooklyn Art Library.

We participated in the Sketchbook Project which is a traveling library of Artist's Sketchbooks! It is a fun collaboration that my daughter and I will forever have to look back on and are proud that it will be kept safe in the Brooklyn Art Library when the tour is over.  If you are interested to learn more, check them out here.

Also if you happen to be in one of the cities listed in East Tour this upcoming year, check our book out - literally.  You get a library card and can take out as many books as you like.  We spent an entire afternoon perusing some fabulous creations when they stopped in Toronto last year.  Our Sketchbook call number is 225.11-2.

Here's a sneak peek!

The cover so creatively designed by Sabrina.

A collage that Sabrina created from our art, photography and various paper pieces.

A sample of our doodles and sketches.

I've also been participating in another 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge and have fallen so incredibly behind that once I hit publish on this post, I'll be sketching about 5 days worth of sketches to make up for all the days that I've missed!!

Check out everyone's fabulous creations here on Pinterest or search #30sketch on Twitter and Instagram!

What I realize most over the last few weeks is that time is so very precious and I really am focused on not muli-tasking so much.  When I am with my kids, they get my undivided attention.  When I am creating, my art gets my focused efforts.  This choice and shift in how I am spending my time better is a long-time coming, but I feel so much more at ease and have even lightened my time-lines and personal demands that I put on myself.  You know what I mean?

Anyway, stay tuned for next week I'll catch you up on a few more things that have kept me busy this month in between taking care of my family, nursing everyone back to health, planning our home renovations, and taking some much needed "me" days!

What have you been up to lately.  I'd love to hear or see what you've kept busy with this month!

Nicki

xo